MIMS

Mims—"Shawn Mims" on all legal documents—carries hip-hop on his shoulders into the modern age with Guilt. The Manhattan-based rapper has Jamaican roots, which force a cultural clash between the tropical and the urban on Guilt.

Mims adopts the same rap-talk style that Jay-Z employed and which subsequently aided him in becoming a household name. Rather than do what every artist in the genre is doing and clutter the record with tons of high profile guest appearances, Mims bucks the popular trend in favor of paring his guest list down to a manageable few indie guns like Tech N9ne and somewhat lesser-knowns like LeToya. Doing that lets the record breathe and not crumple under the weight of its extras and excesses.

The first single, “Move (If You Wanna)” romps with slow sexiness and female vocals. Other songs like “On & On,” “Chasing Sunshine” and “Makin’ Money” are just as infectious. An undercurrent of Jamaican flair also courses through Guilt. There’s a simplicity to what Mims is doing that recalls the debonair, class act that is the aforementioned Jay-Z. Mims doesn’t go overboard with chest-pounding egomania, nor does he spew cuss words with reckless, gratuitous abandon. Instead, he peppers the record with jams like the mid-tempo “One Day” and the studio processed “Rock ‘N' Rollin,” which pays tribute to scores of rock bands that are inevitably tied to rap music (and vice versa), while Mims and Tech N9ne name-check luminaries and current stars that have shaped both the rock and general music landscape. Mims has put together a modern album that’s indicative of hip hop in the here and the now. It’s not groundbreaking nor is it revolutionary, but it is a well-conceived, high-quality rap record that will eventually earn its place in the canon of the ‘00s.

— Amy Sciarretto
04.27.09

MIMS' return begins with the "I ain't in the same place" track, which in itself begins with the sound of a needle dropping. Like everything on the album, the opening title track has its heart in the right place, and MIMS' obvious desire to become more than a ringtone rapper is admirable. The highlights are still club tracks, the best of the bunch being the hyphy-esque "Move (If You Wanna)," although there aren't as many this time out. At least MIMS' Kanye West-esque rap-talk style has matured and is now easier on the ears. ~ David Jeffries, Rovi